Sample processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a sample processing apparatus. The apparatus includes: a sample processing unit configured to process a sample; a display; a memory for storing an electronic manual for the sample processing apparatus; and a controller that is capable of showing a relevant part of the electronic manual on the display when a trouble has occurred in the sample processing unit, the relevant part of the electronic manual describing an operation procedure to deal with the trouble.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2011-103235 filed on May 2, 2011, the entire content ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sample processing apparatus forprocessing a sample such as blood.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, sample processing apparatuses for processing clinical samplessuch as blood and urine are used in clinical facilities. When troubleoccurs in such sample processing apparatuses, a structure is required tosmoothly deal with the trouble since the processing of samples issuspended.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003/232797 discloses anautomatic blood cell analyzer capable of showing on a display a helpdialog that includes an OK button and error list when trouble occurs inthe measuring unit. In this apparatus, when a specific error is selectedfrom the displayed error list and the OK button is pressed, a suitablerecovery process relating to the error is executed or a screen requiredfor the recovery process is shown on the display. When a specific erroris selected from the error list, a description of the error and themethod of recovering from the error are shown in the action field of thehelp dialog. For example, when pressure trouble occurs in the measuringunit and is selected from the error list, a [Please adjust pressure]message is displayed in the action field as the method of recoveringfrom the pressure trouble.

In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application PublicationNo. 2003/232797, a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of theapparatus may not be able to adequately understand the proper sequenceof operation to deal with the trouble. For example, the specificoperation sequence needed to adjust the pressure may not be understoodfrom the [Please adjust pressure] message that is displayed as themethod for dealing with the trouble. Therefore, the user must take thetime and effort to look up the relevant part describing the method fordealing with the trouble in operating manual of the apparatus stored asa booklet in the facility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appendedclaims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within thissummary.

A first aspect of the present invention is a sample processingapparatus, comprising: a sample processing unit configured to process asample; a display; a memory for storing an electronic manual for thesample processing apparatus; and a controller that is capable of showinga relevant part of the electronic manual on the display when a troublehas occurred in the sample processing unit, the relevant part of theelectronic manual describing an operation procedure to deal with thetrouble.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of an embodiment of asample analyzer;

FIG. 2 briefly shows the structures of the measuring unit and thetransport unit of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the information processing unit of theembodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a menu screen that is displayed on the display of theembodiment;

FIG. 5 shows the displayed content of the display when the help dialogis open in the present embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows the displayed content of the display when the operationmanual display button is pressed in the help dialog in the presentembodiment;

FIG. 7 shows the displayed content of the display when the detailprocedure display button is pressed in the help dialog in the presentembodiment;

FIGS. 8A through 8D show the displayed content of the video displayregion and the page of the electronic manual that includes video of thepresent embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows the displayed content of the display when the help dialogand the display region are shown simultaneously in the presentembodiment;

FIG. 10 shows the displayed content of the display when the help dialogis open based on reagent depletion in the present embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows the displayed content of the display when the detailprocedure display button is pressed in the help dialog in the presentembodiment;

FIG. 12 shows the displayed content of the display when the help dialogand the display region are shown simultaneously in the presentembodiment;

FIG. 13 shows the displayed content of the display when the executebutton is pressed in the help dialog in the present embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows the displayed content of the display when the help dialogis open based on quality control trouble in the present embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows the displayed content of the display when the detail datadisplay button is pressed in the help dialog in the present embodiment;

FIGS. 16A through 16C show the operation unit and the help dialog shownon the display when any of various errors occur in the presentembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart of the process executed by operating the helpdialog in the present embodiment; and

FIG. 18 shows a modification of the menu screen that is displayed on thedisplay when trouble is detected in the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present embodiment applies the present invention to a sampleprocessing apparatus for examining and analyzing blood.

The sample processing apparatus of the present embodiment is describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a sample processingapparatus 1. The sample processing apparatus 1 of the present embodimentis configured by a transport unit 2, measuring units 31 and 32, and aninformation processing unit 4.

The transport unit 2 is arranged in front of the measuring units 31 and32, and includes a right table 21, left table 22, and a rack transporter23 connecting the right table 21 and the left table 22. The right table21 and the left table 22 can accommodate a plurality of sample racks L,each of the racks L being capable of holding ten sample containers T.

The transport unit 2 accommodates a sample rack L loaded on the righttable 21 by the user. The transport unit 2 moves the sample rack Laccommodated on the right table 21 to a predetermined position of therack transporter 23 so as to supply the sample containers T to themeasuring units 31 and 32. The transport unit 2 also collects the samplerack L on the rack transport 23 to the left table 22.

Barcode labels respectively adhered to the sample rack L and the samplecontainers T are read by the barcode reader 203 (refer to FIG. 2) of thetransport unit 2 at a predetermined position of the rack transporter 23.

The measuring unit 31 performs processing of the sample container T onthe rack transport 23 positioned in front of the unit. That is, themeasuring unit 31 removes the sample container T from the sample rack Land moves it into the measuring unit 31 via a hand member (not shown inthe drawing), and the sample contained in the sample container T ismeasured within the measuring unit 31. When the measurement iscompleted, the measuring unit 31 returns the sample container T to theholder of the original sample rack L. The measuring unit 32 performsmeasurements of samples identically to measuring unit 31.

The measuring units 31 and 32 respectively have a cover 31a and 32a atthe front side of the apparatus. The user can replace reagent in themeasuring units 31 and 32, and remove RBC (described later) samplecontainers by opening the covers 31a and 32a.

The information processing unit 4 has an input section 41 and a display42. The information processing unit 4 is connected to the transport unit2, measuring units 31 and 32, and a host computer (not shown in thedrawing) so as to be capable of communications through a communicationnetwork.

The information processing unit 4 controls the operations of thetransport unit 2 and the measuring units 31 and 32. The informationprocessing unit 4 also detects errors, shows the error content on thedisplay 42, and shows the electronic manual (operating manual) on thedisplay 42 in accordance with instructions from the user, which will bedescribed later.

FIG. 2 briefly shows the structures of the transport unit 2 and themeasuring units 31 and 32.

The transport unit 2 is provided with a drive unit 201, sensor unit 202,barcode reader 203, and communication unit 204.

The drive unit 201 includes a mechanism to transport the sample rack Lwithin the transport unit 2, and the sensor unit 202 includes a sensorfor detecting a sample rack L within the transport unit 2. The barcodereader 203 reads the barcode labels respectively adhered to the samplerack L and the sample containers T.

The communication unit 204 is connected to the information processingunit 4 so as to be capable of communication. Each part in the transportunit 2 is controlled by the information processing unit 4 through thecommunication unit 204. The signals output from each part in thetransport unit 2 are transmitted to the information processing unit 4through the communication unit 204.

The measuring units 31 and 32 are respectively provided with anaspirating unit 301, sample preparation unit 302, detection unit 303,drive unit 304, sensor unit 305, barcode reader 306, and communicationunit 307. Note that the measuring units 31 and 32 are described only interms of the measuring unit 31 since there structures are completelyidentical.

The aspirating unit 301 includes a mechanism for aspirating sampleaccommodated in the sample container T transported within the measuringunit 31. The sample preparation unit 302 has a plurality of reactionchambers. The sample preparation unit 302 mixes an aspirated sample andreagent within a reaction chamber to prepare a sample for measurement.The detection unit 303 measures the sample prepared by the samplepreparation unit 302. The detection unit 303 has an optical detector formeasuring white blood cells and nucleated red blood cells, which detectsoptical information (side fluorescent light signals, forward scatteredlight signals, and side scattered light signals) from the white bloodcells and nucleated red blood cells in the sample as sample data. Thedetection unit 303 also has an electric RBC detector for measuringreticulocytes and platelets in the sample, by detecting electricalinformation from reticulocytes and platelets in a sample as sample data.

The drive unit 304 includes a mechanism for moving the sample containerT within the measuring unit 31. The sensor unit 305 includes a sensorfor detecting the sample container T within the measuring unit 31. Thebarcode reader 306 reads the barcode label adhered to the samplecontainer T moved into the measuring unit 31.

The communication unit 307 is connected to the information processingunit 4 so as to be capable of communication. Each part in the measuringunit 31 is controlled by the information processing unit 4 through thecommunication unit 307. The signals output from each part in themeasuring unit 31 are transmitted to the information processing unit 4through the communication unit 307.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the information processing unit 4.

The information processing unit 4 is a personal computer configured by amain body 40, input unit 41, and display 42. The main body 40 has a CPU401, ROM 402, RAM 403, hard disk 404, reading device 405, input/outputinterface 406, image output interface 407, and communication interface408.

The CPU 401 is provided to execute a computer program stored in the ROM402 and a computer program loaded in the RAM 403. The RAM 403 is usedwhen reading the computer programs recorded in the ROM 402 and the harddisk 404. The RAM 403 is also used as a work area of the CPU 401 whenexecuting these computer programs.

Various computer programs executed by the CPU 401, such as an operatingsystem and application programs, as well as the data used in theexecution of the computer programs are installed on the hard disk 404.That is, programs for analyzing the sample data received from themeasuring units 31 and 32, generating measurement results forreticulocyte count and leukocyte count, and displaying the generatedmeasurement results on the display 42 are installed on the hard disk404. Also installed on the hard disk 404 are programs for storing theelectronic manual of the sample processing apparatus 1, displaying themenu screen A1, help dialog D1, reagent replacement dialog D2 and thelike (described later), and receiving input through these screens.

Note that the electronic manual of the present embodiment is a PDF(portable document format) file recording an operation method of thesample processing apparatus 1 in page sequence similar to a booklet-likeoperation manual recorded in chapters, paragraphs, sections andsubsections. The electronic manual recorded a series of operationprocedures in detail for the operations such as sample measurement, anddealing with trouble, using screen examples and diagrams of varioustypes. The electronic manual may be prepared by digitizing an operationmanual created in booklet form.

The reading device 405 is configured by a CD (compact disk) drive, DVD(digital video disk) drive or the like capable of reading computerprograms and data recorded on a recording medium. Instructions and dataare input to the information processing unit 4 by a user using the inputunit 41, which includes a mouse and keyboard, through the connected I/Oinput interface 406. The image output interface 407 is connected to thedisplay 42 configured by a display, and outputs image signalscorresponding to video data to the display 42.

The display 42 shows images based on the input image signals. Thedisplay 42 shows various types of program images in addition to a menuscreen A1, help dialog D1, and reagent replacement dialog D2, which aredescribed later. Data are transmitted and received to/from the transportunit 2 and measuring units 31 and 32 via the communication interface408. The CPU 401 monitors whether an error occurs in each part of thetransport unit 2 and measuring units 31 and 32 through the communicationinterface in a manner to be described later.

FIG. 4 shows the menu screen A1 as shown on the screen 42. Note thatFIG. 4 shows the initial condition of the menu screen A1.

The menu screen A1 includes a tool bar region A10, main region A20, andmeasurement operation region A30.

The tool bar A10 includes a plurality of buttons. The tool bar A10 isnormally shown at the top of the screen even though the display contentof the menu screen A1 changes. The main region A20 includes a pluralityof buttons for showing various menus. The user issues variousinstructions to the information processing unit 4 by pressing thesebuttons. Note that the main region A20 shows the plurality of buttonsindicated in FIG. 4 in the initial state. The main region A20 shows anoperation manual button H1 for displaying the electronic manual of thesample processing apparatus 1. When the operation manual button H1 ispressed, the electronic manual of the sample processing apparatus 1 isshown in the main region A20. Note that although the electronic manualmay be shown in the main region A20 when operation manual display buttonD12 and the detail procedure display button D13 (described later) of thehelp dialog D1 are pressed, the operations of these buttons D12 and D13are special and the electronic manual can be shown with an optionaltiming chosen by the user by operating the operation manual displaybutton H1.

The measurement operation region A30 includes operation units M1 and M2corresponding to the two measuring units 31 and 32. The operation unitsM1 and M2 have identical structures, which incorporate status alertunits P11 and P21, error message display regions P12 and P22, errorbutton P31 including an icon indicating an error warning, and operationunit menu button P32.

The status alert unit P11 shows green when the corresponding measuringunit is operating normally, and shows red when an error occurs in themeasuring unit. The error message display region P12 shows an errormessage when an error occurs in the measuring unit. The status alertunit P21 shows green in the region of the transport unit 2 correspondingto this measuring unit when the unit is operating normally, and showsred when an error occurs in the transport unit 2. The error messagedisplay region P22 shows an error message in the region of the transportunit 2 when an error occurs. Note that in FIG. 4 the status alert unitsP11 and P21 are green and there are no error messages shown in the errormessage display regions P12 and P22 since no error has occurred.

The error button P31 is displayed when an error occurs in thecorresponding measuring unit. When the error button P31 is shown, thehelp dialog D1 (refer to FIG. 5) is displayed at the top of thecorresponding operation unit. Note that in FIG. 4 no error button P31 isshown since an error has occurred in the measuring units 31 and 32 andtransport unit 2. The operation unit menu button P32 opens the operationmenu screen (not shown in the drawing) which allows instruction toinitiate various processes.

FIG. 5 shows the display content of the display 42 when the help dialogD1 is open. FIG. 5 shows the condition when an “RBC detector blockage”is generated in the measuring unit 32.

In the operation unit M2, the color of the status alert unit P11 becomesred when an error occurs in the measuring unit 32. An error message isalso shown in the error message display region P12. When an error occursin the measuring unit 32, an error button P31 is shown and a help dialogD1 is shown at the top of the operation unit M2.

The help dialog D1 includes an error message list D11, operation manualdisplay button D12, detail procedure display button D13, execute buttonD14, and close button D15. An error item is shown, or, when a pluralityof simultaneous errors occur, a plurality of error items are shown inthe error message list D11.

When the operation manual display button D12 is pressed, the main regionA20 shows the page of the electronic manual that records informationsuch as the cause of the error, coping procedure and error recoveryconditions for the error selected in the error message list D11. Whenthe detail procedure display button D13 is pressed, the main region A20shows the page of the electronic manual that records the coping method(operation procedure) for the error selected from the error message listD11. When the execute button D14 is pressed, a process is executed tocancel the error elected from the error message list D11. When the closebutton D15 is pressed, the help dialog D1 is closed.

For example, to cancel the RBC detector blockage, the user opens thecover 32a of the measuring unit 32, and performs a predeterminedprocedure to remove the RBC detector blockage, then presses the executebutton D14. Hence, the RBC detector blockage error is eliminated, andthe corresponding error item is erased from the error message list D11.When the entire error list is erased at this time, the error button P31is erased and the help dialog D1 is closed, the color of the statusalert unit P11 becomes green, and the error message is erased from theerror message display region P12.

When an error item is shown in the error message list D11 and the closebutton D15 is pressed to close the help dialog D1, the error button P31of the operation unit M2 remains shown since the error is not canceled.In this case, when the error button P31 is pressed, the help dialog D1is again shown at the top of the operation unit M2.

Note that even when an error occurs in the measuring unit 31, the colorof the status alert unit P11 of the operation unit M1 becomes red, anerror message is shown in the error message display region P12, theerror button P31 is shown, and the help dialog D1 is shown at the top ofthe operation unit M1.

FIG. 6 shows the display content of the display 42 when the operationmanual display button D12 is pressed in the help dialog D1 of FIG. 5.

When the user presses the operation manual display button D1 in thestate shown in FIG. 5, the help dialog D1 is closed and the displayregion A21 is shown in the main region A20. As shown in FIG. 6, thedisplay region A21 shows information explaining the error selected fromthe error message list D11 in this case. That is, when the operationmanual display button D12 is pressed, the display region A21 shows thepage of the electronic manual that records information such as thecause, coping procedure, and error recovery conditions of the objecterror (RBC detector blockage in FIG. 5).

Note that the electronic manual has a link function. When the operationmanual display button D12 is pressed, the information corresponding tothe error selected from the error message list D11 is read from the harddisk 404, and the appropriate page of the electronic manual is shownbased on the link information. Link information designating the page ofthe electronic manual is associated with each error and the operationmanual display button D12, and is stored on the hard disk 404.

The table of contents of the electronic manual are shown in the leftside region of the display region A21, and the page of the electronicmanual is displayed in the right side region of the display region A21.The left side region and the right side region are configured to allowvertical scrolling of the display content via the respective scrollbars.

FIG. 7 shows the display content of the display 42 when the detailprocedure display button D13 is pressed in the help dialog D1 of FIG. 5.

When the user presses the detail procedure display button D13 in thestate shown in FIG. 5, the help dialog D1 is closed and the displayregion A21 is shown in the main region A20. As shown in FIG. 7, in thiscase the display region A21 shows coping information (operationprocedure to cancel the error) indicating the coping method for theerror selected from the error message list D11. That is, when the detailprocedure display button D13 is pressed, the display region A21 showsthe page of the electronic manual that records the coping procedure(procedure to cancel the error) of the object error (RBC detectorblockage in FIG. 5). Also in this case, the link informationcorresponding to the error selected from the error message list D11 isread from the hard disk 404, and the appropriate page of the electronicmanual is shown based on the link information. Link informationdesignating the page of the electronic manual is associated with eacherror and the detail procedure display button D13, and is stored on thehard disk 404.

Note that the electronic manual shown in the display region A21 includesthe icon A21a designating the form of the instruction. The icon A21a islinked to a page in the electronic manual describing the item associatedwith icon A21a in greater detail. When the user presses the icon A21a,the item associated with the icon A21a is shown in the electronic manualwhere the information is recorded in greater detail. In this case, whenthe icon A21a is pressed, the link information held in the electronicmanual is read and the page of the electronic manual is shown based onthe link information. The electronic manual holds link informationspecifying the page within the electronic manual that corresponds to theicon.

The electronic manual shown in display region A21 shows a page includingvideo with a more detailed explanation of the coping method (operationprocedure for canceling the error) for the displayed error.

FIG. 8A shows a page of the electronic manual that contains video. Theelectronic manual has pre-embedded video information for detailedexplanation of the coping method (procedure for canceling the error) forthe RBC detector blockage, and a video display region A21b is providedfor watching and operating the video. A control bar A21c is provided inthe video display region A21b, so that a video of the operationprocedure to cancel the RBC detector blockage is shown when the playbutton A21d is pressed in the control bar A21c. The user can change thevideo play position by operating the operation units of the control barA21c.

FIGS. 8B and 8C show the display content of the video display regionA21b. The user can more easily cope with an error by knowing theoperation procedure needed to cancel the error (in this case, RBCdetector blockage) by referring to the video shown in the video displayregion A21b.

FIG. 9 shows the display content of the display 42 when the displayregion A21 and the help dialog D1 are shown simultaneously.

When the user presses the error button P31 while the display region A21shows the coping method (operation procedure) for the error as shown inFIG. 7, the help dialog D1 is again shown, resulting in the conditionshown in FIG. 9.

Hence, when the coping method (operation procedure) for the error andhelp dialog D 1 are shown together in the display region A21, the usercan perform operations related to the help dialog D1 while viewing thedisplay region A21. For example, when the user advances operationsaccording to the electronic manual shown in display region A21 and latercomes to the part indicating to press the execute button D14 in theelectronic manual, the execute button D14 can be pressed smoothly.Therefore, the operation performance of the use is improved.

When the execute button D14 is pressed, the CPU 401 executes theautomated washing of the RBC detector of the measuring unit as arecovery operation to recover from the trouble of the RBC detectorblockage. In the automated washing, the inside of the RBC detector iswashed automatically by flushing diluting liquid through the RBCdetector a predetermined number of times.

FIG. 10 shows the display content of the display 42 when the help dialogD1 is open based on the reagent depletion. FIG. 10 shows the conditionwhen a “cell pack DCL depleted” is generated in the measuring unit 32.

In this case also, similar to FIG. 5, the color of the status alert unitP11 of the operation unit M2 turns red, an error message is shown in theerror message display region P12, the error button P31 is shown, and thehelp dialog D1 is shown at the top of the operation unit M2.

Similar to FIG. 5, when the operation manual display button D12 ispressed, the main region A20 shows information explaining the error.When the detail procedure display button D13 is then pressed, the mainregion A20 shows the display region A21 indicating the coping method(procedure for canceling the error) for the error. When the executebutton D14 is pressed, a process is executed to cancel the error electedfrom the error message list D11. When the close button D15 is pressed,the help dialog D1 is closed. When the error button P31 is pressed inthe condition shown in FIG. 11, the help dialog D1 is shown as shown inFIG. 12.

FIG. 13 shows the display content of the display 42 when the executebutton D14 is pressed in the help dialog D1 of FIGS. 10 and 12.

When the user pressed the execute button D14 in the condition shown inFIGS. 10 and 12, the help dialog D1 is closed and changed to the reagentreplacement dialog D2. Note that the reagent replacement dialog D2 notonly shows the execute button D14 of the help dialog D1 indicated inFIGS. 10 and 12, but also shows the operation unit menu screen (notshown in the drawings) by pressing the operation unit menu button P32 ofthe operation units M1 and M2.

As shown in FIG. 13, the reagent replacement dialog D2 shows a list ofreagents installed in the measuring unit 32, and the residual amount inthe reagent container is shown in the display region corresponding toeach reagent. In FIG. 13, an icon D21 indicating insufficient residualreagent is shown in the display region corresponding to “cell pack DCL.”Therefore, the user or other person can confirm whether there isinsufficient residual amount of a reagent by confirming the icon D21.

The reagent replacement dialog D2 includes an execute button D22 and acancel button D23. When the user erases “cell pack DCL depleted,” theuser opens the cover 32a of the measuring unit 32 and replaces the cellpack DCK reagent container, then presses the execute button D22. Theoperation procedure is described in a part of the electronic manualshown in the display region A21 as shown in FIG. 11. Therefore, the“cell pack DCK depletion” error is canceled the reagent replacementdialog D2 is closed, and the corresponding error item is erased from theerror message list D11 of the help dialog D1. When the cancel button D23is pressed, the reagent replacement dialog D2 is closed.

FIG. 14 shows the display content of the display 42 when the help dialogD1 is open based on quality control trouble. FIG. 14 shows the conditionwhen quality control trouble occurs and “quality control trouble” isselected from the error message list D11 by including the resultsexceeding the normal range in the measurement results of a qualitycontrol substance in the measuring unit 32.

In this case also, similar to FIG. 5, the color of the status alert unitP11 of the operation unit M2 turns red, an error message is shown in theerror message display region P12, the error button P31 is shown, and thehelp dialog D1 is shown at the top of the operation unit M2. The helpdialog D1 in this case includes a detail data display button D16 andconfirmation button D17 in addition to the operation manual displaybutton D12 and close button D15 similar to the help dialog D1 of FIG. 5.

When the detail data display button D16 is pressed, a chart (refer toFIG. 15) relating to quality control is shown in the main region A20.When the confirmation button D17 is pressed, the quality control troubleerror is canceled and the “quality control trouble” is erased from theerror message list D11 and the help dialog D1 is closed since the userhas confirmed the error.

FIG. 15 shows the display content of the display 42 when the detail datadisplay button D16 is pressed in the help dialog D1 of FIG. 14.

When the user presses the detail data display button D16 in the stateshown in FIG. 12, the help dialog D1 is closed and the display regionA22 is shown in the main region A20. The display region A22 shows achart indicating the history of measurement results in quality controlfor a plurality of items (RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV). Note that when qualitycontrol is performed, the measurement results of each measurement itemare stored on the hard disk 404 together with the measurement time anddate. When the detail data display button D16 is pressed, the oldmeasurement data are read from the hard disk 40 and the chart shown inFIG. 15 is generated and displayed using the old measurement resultsread from disk and the current measurement result. When the chartindicating the history of quality control includes results that exceednormal ranges, an X-symbol icon A22a is shown at that position.

The cursor A22b is positioned at the measurement result that caused thequality control trouble at this time. In FIG. 13, a measurement resultexceeding the normal range is generated in the current measurement item[RBC], and the cursor A22b is positioned at the icon A22a. Thus, theuser can confirm the measurement item that generated the quality controltrouble.

FIGS. 16A through 16C show the help dialog D1 and operation unit M2 thatare shown on the display 42 when various errors occur in the measuringunit 32 and transport unit 2.

FIG. 16A shows the condition when barcode reading trouble occurs in themeasuring unit 32 and barcode reading error is selected from the errormessage list D11.

The help dialog D1 in this case shows an operation manual display buttonD12, close button D15, confirmation button D17, detail procedure displaybutton D13, and detail data display button D16. When the confirmationbutton D17 is pressed, the error is canceled since the user hasconfirmed that a barcode reading error has occurred. When the operationmanual display button D12 is pressed, information explaining the error(barcode reading trouble) is shown.

FIG. 16B shows the condition when a plurality of errors occur in themeasuring unit 32, and “RBC detector blockage” is selected from theerror message list D11. Note that the error message display region P12shows error items at the uppermost level of the error message list D11.

As shown in FIG. 16B, when the “RBC detector blockage” is selected fromthe error message list D11, the help dialog D1 shows the operationmanual display button D12, detail procedure display button D13, executebutton D14, and close button D15 similar to FIG. 5. When the userselects “barcode reader trouble” in the situation shown in FIG. 16B, thehelp dialog D1 shows the operation manual display button D12, closebutton D15, and confirmation button D17 similar to FIG. 16Z. When theuser selects “quality control trouble” in the situation shown in FIG.16B, the help dialog D1 shows the operation manual display button D12,close button D15, detail data display button D16, and confirmationbutton D17 similar to FIG. 14.

Thus, with the exception of the operation manual display button D12 andthe close button D15, the buttons arranged in the help dialog D1 changeaccording to the error item selected from the error message list D11.That is, the information associated with the error items and displayedbuttons is stored on the hard disk 404 of FIG. 3. Hence, the user canrapidly perform an operation when she wants to know the coping method(operation procedure) for an error and when wanting to confirm the dataof the cause of an error. When the user is unsure of the coping method(operation procedure) needed for an error, a detail procedure displaybutton D13 is shown in the help dialog D1. The user can thereforeconfirm the predetermined procedure to use to cancel the error.

FIG. 16C shows the condition when an error occurs in a region of thetransport unit 2 corresponding to the measuring unit 32 and “rack feedtrouble” is selected from the error message list D11.

The help dialog D1 in this case shows an operation manual display buttonD12, execute button D14, and close button D15, and the detail proceduredisplay button D13, and detail data display button D16 are not shown.When the execute button D14 is pressed, belt (not shown in the drawing)initialization is performed for the rack transporter 23, and the erroris canceled.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart of the processes performed by operating the helpdialog D1.

The CPU 401 of the information processing unit 4 monitors whether anerror occurs in the units (measuring units 31 and 32, and transport unit2) within the sample processing apparatus 1 (S11). When an error isdetected (S11: YES), the process advances to S12. When no error isdetected (S11: NO), the processes of Sll through S25 are repeated untilshutdown is performed (S25: YES).

When an error occurs, the CM 401 shows the help dialog D1 on the display42. The process is performed as follows according to the user operationof the buttons arranged in the help dialog D1.

When the operation manual display button D12 is pressed (S13: YES), theCPU 401 shows in the main region A20 the page of the electronic manualrecorded for the error (S14). When the detail procedure display buttonD13 is pressed (S15: YES), the CPU 401 shows in the main region A20 thepage of the electronic manual recording the coping method (operationprocedure) for the error (S16). When the detail data display button D16is pressed (S17: YES), the CPU 401 shows in the main region A20 thechart indicating the history of measurement results for quality control(S18).

When the close button D15 is pressed (S19: YES), the CPU 401 closes thehelp dialog D1 (S20). Thereafter, when the error button P31 is pressed(S21: YES), the CPU 4012 again shows the help dialog D1 (S22). Wheneither the execute button D14 or confirmation button D17 is pressed(S23: YES), the CPU 401 executes the process to cancel the error (S24).Alternatively, when either the execute button D14 or confirmation buttonD17 is not pressed (S23: NO), the process returns to S13. When allerrors included in the error message list D11 are canceled (S25: YES),the process advances to S26. Alternatively, when all errors are notcanceled (S25: NO), the process returns to S13.

According to the present embodiment, a user can show the page of theelectronic manual that describes the coping method (operation procedure)of an error in the main region A20 by pressing the detail proceduredisplay button D13 when the user does not know the coping method(operation procedure) for the trouble (error). Therefore, the user doesnot need to specially search for the relevant part describing the copingmethod for the error all through the operation manual stored in bookletformat within the facility. The user can execute the process to cancelthe error by pressing the execute button D14. The burden on the userregarding the error cancellation process is therefore reduced.

According to the present embodiment, since the page of the electronicmanual recording the coping method for the error can be shown bypressing the detail procedure display button D13 in the help dialog D1when an error has been detected, there is no need to show the page ofthe error by pressing the operation manual button H1 shown in the mainregion A20 of the menu screen A1. The burden on the user is thereforereduced.

According to the present embodiment, the help dialog D1 shows thedetected trouble (error) on the error message list D11 together with thedetail procedure display button D13 and execute button D14. Thus, theuser can confirm the error, show the coping method (operation procedure)for the error, and execute the process for canceling the error.

According to the present embodiment, when the user does not know thecoping method (operation procedure) for the detected trouble (error),the coping method (operation procedure) can be shown in the main regionA20, confirmed, then the error can be canceled by pressing the executebutton D14. When the user knows the coping method (operation procedure)for the detected error, the error can be immediately canceled bypressing the execute button D14 without showing the coping method(operation procedure). The burden on the user regarding the errorcancellation process is therefore reduced.

Although the present invention is described by way of the examples ofthe above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the aboveembodiment.

For example, although the example of the embodiment pertains to bloodused as the object of measurement, urine may also be an object ofmeasurement. That is, the present invention may be applied to a sampleprocessing apparatus for examining urine, or may also be applied to aclinical sample processing apparatus for examining other clinicalsamples.

Although the above embodiment is described by way of example of arecovery operation from trouble executed by the measuring unit, that is,washing of the interior of the RBC detector is performed by themeasuring unit when an RBC detector blockage has occurred, the presentinvention is not limited to this arrangement. The recovery operationexecuted by the measuring unit also may be, for example, moving a handmember to the origin position when trouble occurs in the operation ofthe hand member that removes the sample container T from the sample rackL on the rack transporter 23.

Although the above embodiment is described in terms of showing a page ofthe electronic manual that records the coping method (operationprocedure) for an error in the main region A20 by the user pressing thedetail procedure display button D13, the present invention is notlimited to this arrangement. The page of the electronic manual also maybe automatically shown in the main region A20 without pressing thedetail procedure display button D13.

For example, when only one trouble is detected in the sample processingapparatus 1 and the help dialog D1 is shown, the page of the electronicmanual recording the coping method for the trouble may be automaticallyshown in the main region A20. Specifically, when one trouble is detectedwhile the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 4, the page of theelectronic manual recording the coping method may be shown in displayregion A21 as shown in FIG. 9 without user operation.

Even when a plurality of trouble is detected in the sample processingapparatus 1, the priority sequence of the plurality of trouble isdetermined and the help dialog D1 displayed, and the page of theelectronic manual pertaining to the coping method for the highestpriority trouble may be automatically shown in the main region A20. Inthis case, when the highest priority trouble is canceled, the page ofthe electronic manual shown in the main region A20 may be automaticallychanged to the page of the electronic manual pertaining to the copingmethod of the next highest priority trouble.

When trouble has been detected in the present embodiment, the helpdialog D1 is shown in addition to the error button P31 is shown, thecolor of the status alert unit P11 turns red, and error message is shownin the error message display region P12 as shown in FIG. 5. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as, whentrouble has been detected, only the error button P31, status alert unitP11, error message display region P12 may be shown without showing thehelp dialog D1, or shown as in the above embodiment. In this case, whenthe error button P31 is pressed, the help dialog D1 may be shown (referto FIG. 5) similar to the above embodiment. When the error button P31 ispressed in the condition shown in FIG. 18, the help dialog D1 may beshown together with automatically showing the page of the electronicmanual pertaining to the coping method in the display region A21.

The embodiment of the present invention may be variously modified andadapted insofar as such modification and adaptation is within art asdescribed in the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clinical sample processing apparatus,comprising: a sample processing unit configured to process a clinicalsample; a display; a computer connected with to the sample processingunit and with to the display, and comprising including a non-transitorymemory configured to store having an electronic manual stored thereinfor the clinical sample processing apparatus, the electronic manualincludes a plurality of pages, at least some of the pages describingoperation procedures for measuring a clinical sample and at least someof the pages describing procedures for dealing with several errorsincluding a predefined number of different types of errors in an errormessage list, wherein the non-transitory memory is further configured tostore includes link information designating a part stored therein thatassociates the pages of the electronic manual with respects to each typepredefined number of error in association with different types oferrors, the computer is programmed to determine that an error hasoccurred in monitor a status of the sample processing unit and, upon adetection of an error at the sample processing unit, display an errormessage along with a button image operable to call up the electronicmanual on the display, the computer is further programmed to read outthe link information from the non-transitory memory upon determinationthat an error has occurred in response to operation of the button, andmakes the display to show the part to create a view of a page of theelectronic manual designated with a reference to the link informationaccording to the that directs the view to a particular page associatedwith a type of detected error, wherein the link information directs theview to a page describing an operation procedure for dealing with thefirst type of the occurred error, when a first type of error isdetected, and to a page describing an operation procedure for dealingwith a second type of error, when the second type of error is detected;and the computer is further programmed to show on the display a view ofthe electronic manual, and to allow a user to scroll to other pages ofthe electronic manual.
 2. The clinical sample processing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to show, on thedisplay, a first screen image that shows information related to thestatus of the sample processing unit, and to show the relevant partparticular page of the electronic manual on the first screen image whenthe error has occurred.
 3. The clinical sample processing apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising an input device, wherein the computer isconnected with the input device, and is further programmed to: make thedisplay to show a second screen image that includes a trouble displayregion showing a list of errors that occurred in the sample processingunit, and an operation procedure instruction button in which one of theerrors are selectable; and read out the link information from thenon-transitory memory when the in response to operation procedureinstruction button of the second screen button image is operated by theinput device; make the display operable to show the part of call up theelectronic manual designated with the link information according to thetype upon selection of the error selected in the list of one of theerrors.
 4. The clinical sample processing apparatus of claim 3, whereinthe computer is further programmed to show the second screen display acancel button image to include a cancel process instruction part forinstructing execution of a cancel process to cancel the error with theerror message; and the computer is further programmed to execute the acancel process when the cancel process instruction part of the secondscreen image button is manually operatedby the input device.
 5. Theclinical sample processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the computer isfurther programmed to show, on the display, the second screen imagetogether with the relevant part of the electronic manual, and to receivethe operation of the cancel process instruction part display the cancelbutton image while the relevant part particular page of the electronicmanual is shown on the display.
 6. The clinical sample processingapparatus of claim 4, wherein the sample processing unit is configuredto process the clinical sample using reagents in a plurality of reagentcontainers; and the computer is further programmed to determine anoccurrence of an sufficiency insufficiency of a reagent remaining in oneof the reagent containers, and to execute a display process, as thecancel process, to show on the display a screen image thatdistinguishably shows the reagent container where the insufficiency ofreagent has occurred.
 7. The clinical sample processing apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the sample processing unit is configured to measure theclinical sample;, and the computer is further programmed to: determinean occurrence of an abnormality of a measurement result of the clinicalsample measured by the sample processing unit; show, on the display, thesecond screen image to include a detail information instruction partwhen the an error message regarding an abnormality of the a measurementresult has occurred; and a button image operable to view a detailinformation of the abnormality; and show, on the display, a measurementresult screen image showing the abnormal measurement result, when uponreceipt of an operation of the button to view the detailinformationinstruction part is manually operated by the input device. 8.The clinical sample processing apparatus of claim 2, further comprisingan input device, wherein the computer is connected with the inputdevice, and is further programmed to: show, in the first screen image, amanual display instruction part for instructing a display of theelectronic manual,; and show the electronic manual on the display evenwhen the error has not been detected in the sample processing unit inresponse to an operation of the manual display instruction part by theinput device.
 9. The clinical sample processing apparatus of claim 1,further comprising an input device, wherein the computer is connectedwith the input device and is further programmed to play an animationfile that is a part of the electronic manual when the animation file isexecuted by an operation of the input device.
 10. The clinical sampleprocessing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computer is furtherprogrammed to: read out the screen image from the non-transitory memory;display the first screen image to include a main region for displayinginformation relating to the sample processing, and a sub region that isdifferent from the main region; showdisplay an error object in the subregion when an error has occurred; and showdisplay the second screenimage so as to be overlapped on the first screen image when the errorobject is manually operated by the input device.
 11. The clinical sampleprocessing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer is furtherprogrammed to: display the second screen image to include a no-displayobject; and erase the second screen image on the display when theno-display object is manually operated by the input device, and againshow the second screen image so as to be overlapped on the first screenimage when the error object of the sub region is manually operated bythe input device.
 12. The clinical sample processing apparatus of claim1, wherein the computer is further programmed to read out the linkinformation from the non-transitory memory and to automatically show therelevant part of the electronic manual on the display when informationindicating a content of the error is shown on the display.
 13. Theclinical sample processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sampleprocessing unit comprises: a sample preparation unit configured toprepare a measurement sample from a blood and a reagent; and a detectorconfigured to detect characteristic information from a blood cellcontained in the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparationunit, wherein the computer is further programmed to obtain a number ofblood cells in the blood based on a detection data obtained by thedetector.
 14. A method for guiding execution of an error-solvingoperation, the method executed by a computer of a clinical sampleprocessing apparatus to implement steps comprising: processing andanalyzing the clinical sample by the clinical sample processingapparatus; detecting an error in the clinical sample processingapparatus; upon detection of the error, displaying, on a display of theclinical sample processing apparatus, an error message and a buttonimage operable to call up an electronic manual; upon operation of thebutton image, accessing a non-transitory memory of the clinical sampleprocessing apparatus that stores the electronic manual for the clinicalsample processing apparatus including a plurality of pages, at leastsome of the pages describing operation procedures for measuring aclinical sample and some of the pages describing operation proceduresfor dealing with several errors including a predefined number ofdifferent types of errors, and link information that links errors in theclinical sample processing apparatus to relevant pages of the electronicmanual to operation procedures for dealing with the error, whereinaccessing the non-transitory memory comprises locating the linkinformation stored in the non-transitory memory in relation to theerror, and creating a view on the display of a particular page of theelectronic manual that is designated by the link information, whereinthe particular page appearing in the view differs depending upon thetype of error; and displaying the created view of the electronic manualin a scrollable manner.
 15. The method according to claim 14, furthercomprising displaying an operation status of the clinical sampleprocessing apparatus in a first screen area, wherein responsive to adetection of the error, changing the displayed operation status to analerting status for alerting the error.
 16. The method according toclaim 14, further comprising: displaying a dialogue screen on thedisplay that comprises a list of errors which have previously occurredand at least one of an operation manual display button image or arecovery procedure display button image; and receiving a selection inputfor a selected error among the listed errors, wherein displaying therelevant pages of the electronic manual comprises: (i) responsive tooperation of the operation manual display button image, displaying therelevant section of the electronic manual linked by the link informationto the selected error, wherein the relevant section comprisesinformation on a cause of the selected error; or (ii) responsive to anoperation of the recovery procedure display button image, displaying therelevant section of the electronic manual linked by the link informationto the selected error, wherein the relevant section comprisesinformation on procedures for recovering from the selected error. 17.The method according to claim 16, wherein, responsive to an operation ofthe recovery procedure display button image, displaying the relevantsection of the electronic manual further comprises displaying a videoshowing the procedures for recovering from the selected error.
 18. Themethod according to claim 14, further comprising displaying a list ofreagents accessible by the clinical sample processing apparatus with anidentification of one of the reagents that indicates that the identifiedreagent is running out.
 19. The method according to claim 14, furthercomprising displaying a quality control record showing quality controltest results with an identification of one of the quality control testresults that indicates an abnormality.
 20. A clinical sample processingapparatus, comprising: a sample processing unit configured to process aclinical sample; a display; and a computer connected to the sampleprocessing unit and to the display, and comprising a non-transitorymemory having an electronic manual for the clinical sample processingapparatus stored therein, the electronic manual is deployed in thenon-transitory memory to include a plurality of pages, at least some ofthe pages describing operation procedures for measuring a clinicalsample and at least some of the pages describing operation proceduresfor dealing with several types of errors, wherein the non-transitorymemory further includes link information designating a part of theelectronic manual with respect to the operation procedure for dealingwith each of the several types of errors, and the computer is programmedto: determine that an error has occurred in the sample processing unit;upon determination that the error has occurred, display a screen imagethat includes the error, an operation procedure instruction button imageand a message indicating user action for dealing with the error; readout the link information from the non-transitory memory responsive to anoperation of the operation procedure instruction button image; create aview of a page of the electronic manual with reference to the linkinformation that directs the view to a particular page associated with atype of the error, wherein the link information directs the view to apage describing the operation procedure for dealing with the type oferror; and display the created view of the electronic manual, thatallows a user to scroll to other pages of the electronic manual.
 21. Theclinical sample processing apparatus of claim 20, wherein thenon-transitory memory includes screen image information, and thecomputer is programmed to read out the screen image from thenon-transitory memory and automatically display the screen image whenthe error has occurred.
 22. A clinical sample processing apparatuscomprising: a sample processing unit configured to process a clinicalsample using reagents in a plurality of reagent containers; a display;and a computer connected to the sample processing unit and to thedisplay, and comprising a non-transitory memory having an electronicmanual for the clinical sample processing apparatus stored therein, theelectronic manual including a series of operation procedures formeasuring a clinical sample and for dealing with different types oferrors in page sequence, wherein the non-transitory memory furtherincludes link information designating a part of the electronic manualwith respect to the operation procedure for dealing with each of thedifferent types of errors, the computer is programmed to determine thatan error has occurred in the sample processing unit and to read out thelink information from the non-transitory memory, and display the part ofthe electronic manual with respect to the operation procedure fordealing with a type of the error designated with the link information,wherein the computer is further programmed to: determine aninsufficiency of reagent remaining in one of the reagent containers;upon determination of the insufficiency of reagent, display a reagentreplacement dialogue screen that includes a list of the reagentcontainers, a remaining amount of reagent in each of the reagentcontainers, and an identification of the reagent container having theinsufficiency of reagent; and upon receipt of an input from a user afterthe reagent is replaced, terminate the reagent replacement dialogue. 23.A clinical sample measuring apparatus, comprising: a sample measuringunit configured to measure a clinical sample; a display; and a computerconnected to the sample measuring unit and to the display, andcomprising a non-transitory memory having an electronic manual for theclinical sample processing apparatus stored therein, the electronicmanual includes a series of operation procedures for measuring aclinical sample and for dealing with each type of error in pagesequence, wherein the non-transitory memory further includes linkinformation designating a part of the electronic manual with respect tothe operation procedure for dealing with different types of errors, thecomputer is programmed to determine that an error has occurred in thesample measuring unit and to read out the link information from thenon-transitory memory, and display the part of the electronic manualwith respect to the operation procedure for dealing with a type of errordesignated with the link information, wherein the non-transitory memoryincludes test results obtained by the sample measuring unit, thecomputer is further programmed to: when a quality control test result ofa quality control substance has exceeded a normal range, display adialogue screen including a detail data display button image and anerror display region indicating a quality control error; and responsiveto an operation of the detail data display button image, display a chartshowing a history of quality control test results of the quality controlsubstance.
 24. The clinical sample measuring apparatus of claim 23,wherein the computer is further programmed to display the chart with anidentification of any quality control test results that is not within apredesignated normal range.